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IAM1
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Joined: Sep 01, 2006
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 Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject: Surfer Stuns Physicists With Theory Of Everything! |
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Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything
The E8 pattern above left, Garrett Lisi surfing (middle) and out of the water (right)
11/14/2007
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
An impoverished surfer has drawn up a new theory of the universe, seen by some as the Holy Grail of physics, which has received rave reviews from scientists.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ukcorrespondents/andrewmckie/nov07/surfingphysics.htm
Surfing physics : November 2007 : Andrew McKie : UK : Telegraph Blogs
Garrett Lisi, 39, has a doctorate but no university affiliation and spends most of the year surfing in Hawaii, where he has also been a hiking guide and bridge builder (when he slept in a jungle yurt).
In winter, he heads to the mountains near Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where he snowboards. "Being poor sucks," Lisi says. "It's hard to figure out the secrets of the universe when you're trying to figure out where you and your girlfriend are going to sleep next month."
Despite this unusual career path, his proposal is remarkable because, by the arcane standards of particle physics, it does not require highly complex mathematics.
Even better, it does not require more than one dimension of time and three of space, when some rival theories need ten or even more spatial dimensions and other bizarre concepts. And it may even be possible to test his theory, which predicts a host of new particles, perhaps even using the new Large Hadron Collider atom smasher that will go into action near Geneva next year.
Although the work of 39 year old Garrett Lisi still has a way to go to convince the establishment, let alone match the achievements of Albert Einstein, the two do have one thing in common: Einstein also began his great adventure in theoretical physics while outside the mainstream scientific establishment, working as a patent officer, though failed to achieve the Holy Grail, an overarching explanation to unite all the particles and forces of the cosmos.
Now Lisi, currently in Nevada, has come up with a proposal to do this. Lee Smolin at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, describes Lisi's work as "fabulous". "It is one of the most compelling unification models I've seen in many, many years," he says.
"Although he cultivates a bit of a surfer-guy image its clear he has put enormous effort and time into working the complexities of this structure out over several years," Prof Smolin tells The Telegraph.
"Some incredibly beautiful stuff falls out of Lisi's theory," adds David Ritz Finkelstein at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. "This must be more than coincidence and he really is touching on something profound."
Is this the fabric of the universe?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2007/03/19/ecpattern19.xml
Is this the fabric of the universe? - Telegraph
Are we missing a dimension of time?
http://monkeyontable.blogspot.com/2007/10/are-we-missing-dimension-of-time.html
Real Life Story ***: Are we missing a dimension of time?
Parallel universe proof boosts time travel hopes
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2007/09/21/sciuni121.xml
Parallel universe proof boosts time travel hopes - Telegraph
The new theory reported today in New Scientist has been laid out in an online paper entitled "An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything" by Lisi, who completed his doctorate in theoretical physics in 1999 at the University of California, San Diego. [See theory at link below:]
http://arxiv.org/abs/0711.0770
[0711.0770] An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything
He has high hopes that his new theory could provide what he says is a "radical new explanation" for the three decade old Standard Model, which weaves together three of the four fundamental forces of nature: the electromagnetic force; the strong force, which binds quarks together in atomic nuclei; and the weak force, which controls radioactive decay.
The reason for the excitement is that Lisi's model also takes account of gravity, a force that has only successfully been included by a rival and highly fashionable idea called string theory, one that proposes particles are made up of minute strings, which is highly complex and elegant but has lacked predictions by which to do experiments to see if it works.
But some are taking a cooler view. Prof Marcus du Sautoy, of Oxford University and author of Finding Moonshine, told the Telegraph: "The proposal in this paper looks a long shot and there seem to be a lot things still to fill in."
And a colleague Eric Weinstein in America added: "Lisi seems like a hell of a guy. I'd love to meet him. But my friend Lee Smolin is betting on a very very long shot."
Lisi's inspiration lies in the most elegant and intricate shape known to mathematics, called E8 - a complex, eight-dimensional mathematical pattern with 248 points first found in 1887, but only fully understood by mathematicians this year after workings, that, if written out in tiny print, would cover an area the size of Manhattan. |
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dangermite
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Joined: Jun 25, 2006
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| Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:49 am Post subject: |
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We'll see how it stands up in the crucible of peer review, but it could be pretty cool if it holds up. I'm of the opinion that the academic institutions are somewhat stifling to creative scientific thought. It is where all the money is, but success in the academia system entails sucking up to those with power and publishing lots of tiny, easily defensible pieces of scientific work which are generally small, incremental additions to current theory. Even the recent Nobel prizes have been given out for rather mundane work, IMO.
Anyway, it would make my day if a surfer managed to derive a Theory of Everything, while all those elitist sycophants missed it because they were too busy brown nosing each other.
hmm. Do I sound a bit jaded and bitter?  |
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. . . et in Arcadia ego . . . |
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Rhythm
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| Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:16 am Post subject: |
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thanks for the links. That is one of the most interesting ideas I have read in quite awhile and makes much more sense than some of the convoluted irrational theories accepted as fact nowdays. A very good read.
Hopefully eventhorizon is paying attention and has the ability to learn. He fails so often at grasping the intricacies and subtleties of this universe.
This should at least be somewhat easier for even he to somewhat grasp.
well..ok that IS asking a lot...but maybe..... |
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IAM1
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| Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| dangermite wrote: |
We'll see how it stands up in the crucible of peer review, but it could be pretty cool if it holds up. I'm of the opinion that the academic institutions are somewhat stifling to creative scientific thought. It is where all the money is, but success in the academia system entails sucking up to those with power and publishing lots of tiny, easily defensible pieces of scientific work which are generally small, incremental additions to current theory. Even the recent Nobel prizes have been given out for rather mundane work, IMO.
Anyway, it would make my day if a surfer managed to derive a Theory of Everything, while all those elitist sycophants missed it because they were too busy brown nosing each other.
hmm. Do I sound a bit jaded and bitter? |
Hey dangermite! I totally agree with you and thanks for your input   . I know what you're saying about the brown nose-ing etc. I feel the scientific community lacks a certain flare, so to speak, especially when it comes to more open minded and wide range theoretical thinking. I think Lisi may have something here and he seems to have found the balance between his physics and his recreational life that it takes to make a unique discovery. All physics and no healthy sports inclusions can cause a person to stagnate IMO . Peace...IAM1 |
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IAM1
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| Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Rhythm wrote: |
thanks for the links. That is one of the most interesting ideas I have read in quite awhile and makes much more sense than some of the convoluted irrational theories accepted as fact nowdays. A very good read.
Hopefully eventhorizon is paying attention and has the ability to learn. He fails so often at grasping the intricacies and subtleties of this universe.
This should at least be somewhat easier for even he to somewhat grasp.
well..ok that IS asking a lot...but maybe..... |
Hi Rhythm! You are very welcome for the links . I found the article quite interesting too! It's nice when you can find something that makes sense and at the same time doesn't appear irrational etc. Glad you enjoyed the read. Thanks for your input and comments . Peace....IAM1 |
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evutch
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Joined: Sep 24, 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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i find it great that a very diverse group here is following this new cvoncept of everything.
i also find it quite ebjoyable that a "surfer" has thought of this,
i will reserve my poorly non math background of any yey, or ney, only becuase even if it were all explained, i am still trying to comfortably visualise einstiens theory, and falling very short.
stranger breakthroughs have come from stranger places...
i find this whole story very very heartening, as manlind greatest advances still seem to come from the dreamers, and serendipity. as it should. |
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mr_headshot
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| Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| God I hope it holds up, that would be one for the team. |
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IAM1
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| Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| evutch wrote: |
i find it great that a very diverse group here is following this new cvoncept of everything.
i also find it quite ebjoyable that a "surfer" has thought of this,
i will reserve my poorly non math background of any yey, or ney, only becuase even if it were all explained, i am still trying to comfortably visualise einstiens theory, and falling very short.
stranger breakthroughs have come from stranger places...
i find this whole story very very heartening, as manlind greatest advances still seem to come from the dreamers, and serendipity. as it should. |
Hey evuch! This surfer dude has a doctorate in theoretical physics but he still maintains his surfer dude image/lifestyle , which I think is quite impressive! I bet you'd grasp the theories if you had a teacher who knew how to explain them well and/or easily . They are very understandable IMO if you have the right person explain them well. Professor's can make things seem more complicated than they actually are.
Glad you find the story encouraging, I do too. |
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IAM1
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| Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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| mr_headshot wrote: |
| God I hope it holds up, that would be one for the team. |
I hope it does too . |
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